49ers Trent Brown done for 2017, important part of future'

SANTA CLARA — Right tackle Trent Brown’s season is done, but 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan sees him as a key part to their future once he recovers from imminent shoulder surgery.

Brown, Shanahan said, is going on injured reserve after opting for surgery on the right shoulder he injured in a Thanksgiving Day practice. Zane Beadles will start in Brown’s place a second straight game when the 49ers (3-10) host the Tennessee Titans (8-5) on Sunday.

“Trent’s a very important part of this place in our future,” Shanahan said. “When you’re talking about a five or six month injury, that’s something we want to get going as fast as possible, and I fully support his decision.”

Shanahan noted that although it’s an injury some players have played through, some haven’t been able to, and Brown’s issue did not improve even though he was able to return for a Dec. 3 win at Chicago that marked Jimmy Garoppolo’s starting debut at quarterback.

Advertisement

“There’s not disappointment in him. There’s disappointment he doesn’t get to play with the team these last four games,” Shanahan said. “He was making a lot of progress.”

Brown was in his second full season as a starter. A 2015 seventh-round draft pick out of Florida, will be entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2018, making him eligible for an extension, one that may not pay as much in light of durability concerns.

“Trent has a chance to be very dominant at his position,” Shanahan said. “He made huge strides this year. By no means is he fully there. But he had a much better year than just watching him on tape the previous two years.”

Beadles may be best suited as an interior lineman, but right guard Brandon Fusco is excited about lining up next to him again.

“We’re both veterans we. We won’t miss a beat,” Fusco said. “Trent’s special and we’re going to miss him, but Zane is going to come in and do a great job.”

Beadles said he took snaps in practice at right tackle on Wednesday and Thursday last week prior to the 49ers’ game against Houston, and was at various spots Friday when Brown returned to practice. This week, though, Beadles said he knew by Thursday he was starting in Brown’s spot.

“It definitely helps,” Beadles said Friday. “The last little while here during the season I’ve kind of been up at all five positions and had to be ready for everything. Being able to just focus on one spot knowing that’s where I’m going to start and knock on wood, we don’t have any injuries or anything, that’s where I’m going to stay. It definitely helps with the preparation.”